A new 4-star championship trophy is being given at Rolex Kentucky in memory of Roger Haller, whose celebration of life during last year’s Rolex weekend drew scores of the biggest names in eventing to pay tribute.
The designer of the cross-country courses for the 1978 World Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park and the 1996 Olympics, he served as a judge, technical delegate, organizer and perpetual proponent of the sport, serving all its various associations. Roger was a walking rulebook and always willing to help where needed for the betterment of the sport before dying of cancer at age 70 in 2016.
Artist Kerry Millikin–who won the Olympic individual eventing bronze medal in 1996 over a course designed by Roger–is creating the trophy. Since it takes a while to produce a work of art like the Haller trophy, a surrogate silver plate was presented this year to the winner, Phillip Dutton, the top-placed American at Rolex. He was fourth with Mr. Medicott.
Ann, who was involved in the presentation at Rolex, just became the competition manager for the Fair Hill International in Maryland.
Anne Haller presents a surrogate for the new Roger Haller trophy to Phillip Dutton on Mr. Medicott. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
“We hit the trifecta with Ann. She has organized events, stewarded FEI eventing competitions, and has been the press officer at events across the nation. She has a true 360-degree view of competitions. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner to join us,” said Fair Hill International’s executive director, Carla Geiersbach, stated.
Ann will coordinating technical aspects of all of the events that Fair Hill International runs throughout the year.
Fair Hill just received a $100,000 allocation from the Maryland legislature that could help boost its chances to host a new fall 4-star. Fair Hill is one of two finalists for the designation; the other is Great Meadow in Virginia.
Discussing the legislative support and vote of confidence that will be reflected in massive upgrades to the Fair Hill facility, Carla said, “We think that speaks volumes about the support for the project. The improvements to the turf track and the grandstands will benefit all the different disciplines that use the special events zone.”
Roger Haller. (Photo by Nancy JaffeR)